Ivy Charging Practice Story

Scaling Ontario's largest public EV charging network through strategic partnerships and user-centric design

Product StrategyPartnership ManagementUser Experience DesignInfrastructure Planning

Executive Summary

Ivy Charging represents a landmark public-private partnership between Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation, creating Ontario's largest public EV charging network. This case study explores the strategic planning, user experience design, and operational challenges of building a province-wide charging infrastructure.

1000+
Charging Stations
95%
Uptime Rate
4.8/5
User Rating

Strategic Context

Market Opportunity

  • Ontario's EV adoption rate growing 40% annually
  • Existing charging infrastructure insufficient for demand
  • Government incentives for public charging infrastructure
  • Strategic opportunity for utility companies to diversify revenue

Partnership Strategy

Stakeholder Alignment

Hydro One

  • • Distribution network expertise
  • • Customer relationship management
  • • Regulatory compliance knowledge
  • • Infrastructure planning capabilities

Ontario Power Generation

  • • Generation capacity and grid stability
  • • Renewable energy integration
  • • Large-scale project management
  • • Innovation and R&D capabilities

User Experience Design

Design Principles

Accessibility

Universal design for all users, including those with disabilities

Reliability

99%+ uptime with real-time status updates

Simplicity

One-tap charging with minimal user friction

Key UX Features

Mobile App Integration

Seamless app-to-charger connection with QR code scanning and NFC support

Real-time Availability

Live status updates showing charger availability, wait times, and pricing

Payment Flexibility

Multiple payment options including app, credit card, and subscription plans

Infrastructure Planning

Site Selection Criteria

  • • High-traffic locations (shopping centers, highways, urban centers)
  • • Electrical infrastructure capacity and proximity
  • • Parking availability and accessibility
  • • Local EV adoption rates and demographics
  • • Municipal support and permitting requirements

Technical Specifications

Charging Equipment

  • • Level 2 chargers (7-22 kW)
  • • DC fast chargers (50-350 kW)
  • • Smart load management
  • • Weather-resistant enclosures

Grid Integration

  • • Demand response capabilities
  • • Renewable energy integration
  • • Grid stability support
  • • Peak load management

Operational Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Grid Capacity

Problem

Existing electrical infrastructure couldn't support high-power DC fast chargers in many locations

Solution

Implemented smart load management and staged infrastructure upgrades based on usage patterns

Challenge: User Adoption

Problem

Initial user adoption was slow due to unfamiliarity with public charging

Solution

Launched educational campaigns and offered free charging sessions to build user confidence

Results & Impact

Network Performance

Operational Metrics

  • • 1000+ charging stations deployed
  • • 95% average uptime rate
  • • 4.8/5 average user rating
  • • 50,000+ charging sessions monthly

Environmental Impact

  • • 2.5M+ kWh of clean energy delivered
  • • 1,800+ tons of CO2 emissions avoided
  • • 15,000+ EVs supported
  • • 40% increase in local EV adoption

Future Roadmap

Expansion Plans

Phase 2 (2024)

500 additional stations, mobile app enhancements, subscription plans

Phase 3 (2025)

V2G capabilities, renewable integration, smart grid features

Phase 4 (2026)

Autonomous charging, AI optimization, cross-province expansion

Interested in Infrastructure Projects?

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